The Grand Ole Opry gave its Saturday night show on Aug. 29 over to Dolly Parton, with a portion of every ticket sold going to her Imagination Library. The bill was assembled around people with a direct line to her rather than a general all-star lineup.
Carly Pearce, who started out working at Dollywood and was surprised by Parton with an invitation to join the Opry in 2021, sang Those Memories of You and marked her own fifth anniversary as a member on the same night. Kathy Mattea dedicated Jolene to Parton's memory as a Country Music Hall of Fame and Opry member.
Ketch Secor and Molly Tuttle sang Just Someone I Used To Know together. Dan Tyminski dedicated his own song Smile When You're Alone to her, saying her voice would have been perfect on it. T. Graham Brown sang Beulah Land, and Belle Frantz made her Opry debut with Where No One Stands Alone.
Channing Wilson took My Tennessee Mountain Home, and Jada Star, Parton's niece, performed The Orchard. The full cast came back out at the end for 9 to 5, joined by a surprise walk-on from Opry member Jelly Roll.
The night finished without live music. Performers and backstage guests gathered on the stage to watch video of Parton singing I Will Always Love You at the Opry, which is about as close as the room could get to having her on it.
Nashville has been staging tributes at this scale since her death on Aug. 25, and the Opry House has form for them, having recently hosted a star-studded Ray Stevens tribute. More country dates tied to her legacy will land on the tour guide as they are announced, following her death at 80.
The facts
- The Grand Ole Opry dedicated its Aug. 29 Saturday show to Dolly Parton.
- A portion of every ticket sold goes to Parton's Imagination Library.
- Carly Pearce sang Those Memories of You and marked five years as an Opry member.
- Kathy Mattea dedicated Jolene to Parton, and Molly Tuttle sang with Ketch Secor.
- Jelly Roll made a surprise walk-on for the closing performance of 9 to 5.
- The show ended with video of Parton singing I Will Always Love You at the Opry.
- Morgan Myles sang a Dolly Parton tribute at the Grand Ole Opry
- She told the crowd she hoped she could get through it
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